adventures in family, faith, and Down syndrome

Lent

by Maggie on March 8, 2014

Growing up Catholic, I’ve always done something to mark the forty days of Lent. I attend a Lutheran church now and there is, at least in my experience, much less emphasis on the “giving up” than what I had previously become accustomed to. However, it’s always stuck with me that we should, in some way, mark these days.

(In previous years, I’ve given up alcohol… this year, that ain’t gonna happen.)

As we chatted over dinner on Wednesday night, I asked John what he was going to do. He said “oh, the same thing I always do. Give up Sports TV. Except the Final Four, of course. What about you?” It kind of struck me in that conversation that he and I were starting to go through the motions of Lenten sacrifice. (God gave his Son for us and we can’t be inspired enough to give up beer and basketball? We need to refocus!!) Especially in a year when Ellie has become very cognizant of who is doing what and why, I feel the need to step it up. Not just for her, but for me, too.